Shredding-machine.



G. A. LDWRY. SHREDDING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED MAY s, 1912.

Patented `June 3, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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coLUMBxA PLANOGRAPM co.,w^sHxNn1-DN. D. cA

G. A. LOWRY. SHREDDING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED M-AYvs, 1912.

1,63,365 Patented June 3, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June s, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. A. LOWRY. SHREDDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1912.

Patented Janes, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, COLUMBM PLANOGR'APH co.,wAsHlNGTON. D. c.

TUN STATE PATENT FFltE SHREDDING-IVIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, i913.

' Application filed May 6, 1912. Serial No. 695,480.

To all whom, t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Lower, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Malden, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Shredding- Machines, of which the following is aspecitieation.

My invention relates to the art of reducing thin sheet-like material toshreds and consists of improvements which are particularly addressed toand intended for shredding the leaves of plants such as palmetto or palmso as to produc-e narrow shreds or ribbons of material which may bedevoted to sundry uses, for example: the production of twisted cord ortwine.

In the drawings hereto annexed which illustrate an example of myinvention,- Figure l is a front elevation of a shredding machine, partlybroken away to show interior portions; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of themachine; Fig. 3 is a detail on a larger scale showing the relation ofthe conveyer and shredding knives; Fig. l is a detail also on a largescale showing' the pressers which force material upon the conveyer; Fig.5 shows in elevation the picker mechanism; Fig. 6 is a detail on alarger scale of a portion of the picker mechanism; Fig. 7 represents aleaf of palmetto in its natural state; and Fig. S is a similar leaf whenprepared for introduction into the shredding machine.

Referring first to Figs. 7 and S, the segments or blades whichconstitute the leaf X radiate from the stem Z. The vegetable material ator near the stem Z is tough and gummy and is cut away by making a cutthrough the leaf as on the dotted line y.

The leaf is then spread o-ut to the shape shown in Fig. 7, theserrations extending inward to the dotted line y. A function of themachine now to be described is to reduce the leaf, thus cut and spread,to a number of shreds of substantially equal width at the middle, andtapering to a point at either end. Each leaf has a decided grainextending radially from the center of the leaf to the tips of theserrations and this grain is of material assistance in reducing the leafto shreds. i

Referring to Fig. 1, the sprocket wheel A mounted upon a transverseshaft A carries the conveyer which consists of a chain (see Fig. 2)which is composed in part of links C which are furnished at their outeredges or tops with sharp splitting points C2. Vhen the conveyer chainstraightens out between the sprocket wheels A, A3 (see Fig. 2) the linksC abut end to end so that a substantially continuous row of closelyspaced splitting points is presented to the material which is introducedfrom the table D which projects at the front of the machine. Thematerial, such as cut and spread palmetto leaves, is introduced into themachine by laying' each leaf upon the splitting pins C2 in such mannerthat the presser rolls E mounted on the arms E will press the leaf downupon the splitting pins which penetrate the leaf along the line marked1/ in Fig. S. The attendant feeds the machine by inserting the leavesone after the other so that they form practically a continuous band ofmaterial. lf the material be such palmetto leaves as above describedcare should be taken to introduce the leaves so that the serrated sidesof the leaves will always be at one side of the conveyer. The shreddingknives K K are mounted to move rotatively, upon the sprocket chains F;these chains are carried over the wheels G, J and G and are driven fromthe main shaft R2 of the machine through gears H2 H4, bevel gears L, L',shaft L2 and bevel gears L3 and Lt. The conveyer is driven by the wormwheel A2 which meshes with a worm At on the shaft E3, (shown in dottedlines in Fig. l). The coperation of the conveyer with its splitting pinsand the shredding knives is best illustrated in Fig. 3. The material Xis penetrated by the splitting pins C2 which make a `large number ofshort slits in a row along the middle line of the material, the eonveyerchain C and the shredding knives K are so timed that the points of theshredding knives descend on either side passing close to the edge of thesplitting pins, enter the slits made by the splitting pins, descendthrough the transverse slot D in the table D (see F 2) and then moveoutwardly, slitting the material in both directions. As the conveyer isfed forward slowly the successive blades K descend and enter thesuccessive slits made in the material by the splitting points, .so thatas many shreds are produced as there are slits in the material made bythe splitting points C2. There are two similar sets of splitting knives,which work outward in both directions from the conveyer, and the knivesare so placed and the shreds into cords.

timed that two of them act on the material simultaneously, so that thereis no tendency to draw it sidewise in either direction, as the pull ofone knife is balanced by an op-l posite pull exerted by the other. InFigs! the operation of the presser rolls E forcing the material X `downupon the splitting pins C2 is illustrated. After the shredding kniveshave completed their work. as above described the further movement ofthe conveyer carries the shreds farther into the machine dragging themalong the table D. As thisvshredding machine is designed to operate inconjunction with a twisting niachine to twist the shreds into cordsmeans are provided for regularly dispensing supplies of shreds to atwister which forms The mode of delivering shreds to a twister is shownherein only conventionally; the twister' mechanism -may be of anyapproved known variety and the contrivaiice for delivering shreds inproperY arrangement to a twister constitutes vthevsub'ject matter ofimprovements which v. arenot in their specific aspect -germane tothe-shredding machine herein described.

The picker mechanism for delivering shreds to be twisted is illustratedin Figs. 1, 2 and 5. `The shaft lS carries agear wheel H driven by thepinion I-I on the main shaft H3 which is actuated as by a pulley P (Fig.2), the wheel H carries a crank pin vM which in turn carries theconnecting rod -M which actuates the bar M2. This bar extending into themachine passes through the ends of oscillating or vibrating armsM3-which form parts of a frame journaled. upon the shaft M4, the uppermember M5 I of this frame carries the picker nippers N which are shownmore clearlyY in Fig. 5.l

"These nippers N, N are pivotally secured vat N,N; to the crossmeinberM5 of the oscillating frame; they -are held normally vin* closedposition by a spring N3 held in l compression between the nipper armseach of which carries a roll N2. As the oscillating frame descends tothe full line position shown in Fig. 5 to bring the points of the:nippers i into close i juxtaposition with the splitting pins C2 of theconveyer- C, the nip pers are first opened by the operation of fthespreader secured to the shaftU which is` j ournale'd on vthe dependingarm O. This shaft is driven by the vgear connections shown in Figs. land 2, the train being composed of bevel. gears R R of which the formeris-keyed to the shaft S; shaft R2,

`bevelgearsR3, R, shaft R5, bevel gears R, .R2 'shaftfRSg and bevelgears R9, R1".

The parallel arms vU terminate in spreading cams U2 and the connectinggearing which vdrives' the shaftU is soI proportioned and and thenreleases them so that the spring N3 snaps the jaws together at the timethey are in the position shown in Fig. 3 in full line. Then theoscillating frame moves upward to the position shown in dot-ted lines inFig. 5 carrying the nipper rolls N2 into engagement with the stationaryspreader W which opens the nippers and allowsl the shreds X to fall intothe tunnel T beneath. The machine isprefei'ably constructed to includeseveralsuch sets of nippers secured to the cross member M5 of theoscillating frame and so to determine their spacing that all of thematerial shredded by the machine will be removed from the conveyer inits transit from sprocket wheel A to the rear sprocket A3.

that I claim and desire tosecure by LettersPatent is:

l. In a shredding machine, th-e combination of a conveyer furnished withsplitting points adapted to form initial transverse slits in material,and shredding knives with means to enter the knives in said initialslits and move them from .thev splitting points outward.

2. In a shredding machine, the combination of a conveyer furnished withsplitting points adapted to form initial transverse.

slits in material and shredding knives with means to enter the knives insaid initial slits and move them from the ksplittingfpoints outward ateither side of the conveyer.

3. In a shredding machine, the combina-` tion of a conveyer furnishedwith splitting points adapted to form initial transverse slits inmaterial, and shredding knives with means to enter the knivesin saidinitial slits and move them from the splitting `points outward at eitherside of the con` veyer simultaneously.

4. In a shreddingmachine, the combina- -tion of a conveyer furnishedwith splitting points adapted to'form initial transverse slits inmaterial, and shredding knives with means to move the-knives insuccession to enter successive Iinitial slits and thence from thesplitting points outward.

5.*In a shredding machine, the combination of-a convey-er furnished withsplitting points adapted to form initial transverse 4slits in material,and shredding` knives with means to `move theiknives in succession toenter successive initial slits and thence from the splitting pointsoutward Aat either side of the conveyer.

6.*In a shreddingmachine, thecombination of a conveyer furnished withsplitting points -adapted to form initial transverse slits in materialand shredding knives-with means' to moveE the knives in succession toenter successively-initial vslits an'd thence from :the splitting pointsoutward at either side of the conveyer simultaneously.

7. In shredding.:` machine,4 the combination of a conveyer furnishedwith splitting'` points, and shredding knives, with means to move theknives from the splitting points outward and a pickel' to remove shredsfrom the splitting points.

8. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a conveyer JfurnishedWith splitting' points, shredding knives, with means to move the knivesin succession close to successive split-ting points and thence from thesplitting' points outward at either side of the conveyer, and a pickerto remove shreds from the splitting' points.

9. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a eonveyer furnished Withsplitt-ing points, shredding' knives, With means to move the knives fromthe splitting' points outward, a picker, comprising' nippers to eng'ag'eshreds carried by the conveyer points, means to vibrate the picker toand from the conveyer and means to open and close the nippers to seizeand release the shreds.

10. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a conveyer furnishedWith splitting points, shredding knives, with means to move the knivesfrom the splitting' points outward, a picker comprising; pivoted springclosed nippers to engage shreds carried by the conveyer points, means tovibrate the picker to and from the conveyer, a spreader to open thenippers as they approach the oonveyer, and another spreader to open thenippers to release shreds held thereby.

11. In a shredding machine, the combination of a conveyer furnished Withsplitting' point-s adapted to form initial transverse slits in material,pressers to force material to be shredded upon the splitting points toform said slits therein, and shredding' knives With means to enter theknives in said initial slits and move them from the splitting' pointsoutward.

l2. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a conveyer furnishedWith splitting' points adapted to form initial transverse slits inmaterial, pressers to force material to be shredded upon the splitting'points to form said slits therein, and shredding' knives with means toenter the knives in said initial slits and move them from the splitting'points outward at either side of the conveyer.

13. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a conveyer furnishedwith splitting' points adapted to form initial transverse slits inmaterial, pressers to force material to be shredded upon the splitting'points to form said slits therein, and shredding' knives With means toenter the knives in said initial slits and move them from the splitting'points outward at either side of the conveyer simultaneously.

14. In a shredding machine, the combination of a co-nveyer furnishedwith splitting' points, pressers to force material to be shredded upont-he splitting' points, shred ding' knives, with means to move theknives from the splitting points outward and a picker to remove shredsfrom the splitting points.

l5. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a conveyer furnishedwith splitting points, pressers to force material to be shredded uponthe splitting points, shredding' knives, With means to move the knivesfrom the splitting points outward, a picker comprising' nippers toengage shreds carried by the conveyer points, means to vibrate thepicker to and from the conveyer and means to open and close the nippersto seize and release the shreds.

1G. In a shredding' machine, the combination of a conveyer furnishedWith splitting points, pressers to force material to be shredded uponthe splitting' points, shredding' knives, With means to move the knivesfrom the splitting' points outward, a picker comprising' pivoted spring'closed nippers to engage shreds carried by the conveyer points, means tovibrate the picker to and from the ccnveyer, a spreader to open thenippers as they approach the conveyer, and another spreader to open thenippers to release shreds held thereby.

Signed' by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this third day of May, 1912.

GEORGE A. LOVRY.

Witnesses CHARLES D. IVOODBERRY, ODIN ROBERTS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ZPatents.- Washington, D. C.

